1
2
“Akri?”3
Ash looked up from the comic book he was reading. “Yeah, baby?”4
Simi crossed the throne room of Katoteros, her feet a few inches off the floor, and stopped in front of him. Her wings twitched slightly as she studied him with an intensely curious gaze. “Have you make ups your mind yet?”5
“About?” he asked carefully, placing the comic on the floor by his feet, shooing away one of his pet pterygsauri as it sniffed the pages. The small winged dragonlike creature chortled at him before walking off to find one of his brothers.6
Rolling her eyes slightly, Simi lowered her body to the floor in front of him and crouched to the cool marble. “About you and Tria,” she said easily. “You got a lot to think about and the Simi didn’t want to bother you about it, or lets you know that she knew, but it’s been a long times,” she paused, and titled her head in thought. “Well, not that longs, really, but in matters like this, it’s a long time and things can change too much if you waits any longer.”7
Wondering why he was even surprised that Simi knew Tria was still alive, he leaned back in his throne and regarded her calmly. “What do you think?” he asked. 8
“About?”9
“You’re included in this decision.”10
Shaking her head, Simi reached out to grab a pterygsaurus, cooing at it when it started to panic. “Ohhh, Xirena has these babies all scared of Charontes,” she said, referring to the fact that her sister liked the small dragons…usually with barbecue sauce. “It’s okays little guy,” she told him. “The Simi won’t let anything bad happens to you.”11
Shifting her gaze to Ash, she placed the pterygsaurus in her lap. “You too, Akri. The Simi won’t let nothing bad happens. And if you turning away from the Heifer Goddess happens to be that thing, and that would make the Simi ever so happy, then I will be here for you.” 12
“And if that’s not my decision?” he asked, surprised at the relief he was feeling.13
“Then the Simi will still loves you and protects you.” Putting the dragon on the floor, she stood. “We family, Akri, and family sticks together regardless what happens.” Thinking for a moment, her face screwed up at a certain thought. “I guess the Heifer Goddess is sort of family, too, which is totally gross to think about.” 14
Laughing for one of the first times in months, Ash gave Simi a smile. Regardless how his emotional state was, he could always count on the demon’s unique was of looking at things to bring issues into perspective. “I have the answer I’ve been seeking,” he told her. “I just have to make sure that it’s the answer I want to give, since in this one, there are no second chances.”15
“Oh.” Standing, Simi gave a brief smile. “Make sures it’s what you really, really want, deep down. ‘Cause if you give an answer just because you want to it to be that way, then you going to be sad, and not like the outcome, even if it’s what you think you think you want.” 16
“I know,” he said, appreciating her insight. “I know.”17
~~~~~~~~~~18
“Zane.”19
Angie looked at Dom. “What?”20
Jerking slightly, Dom glanced over, then pulled his attention back to driving. “What?”21
“You said Zane.”22
“I did?” He knew a Vane, who was a Lykos Were-Hunter, but the name Zane was foreign to him. He frowned we he realized he must have zoned out for a while as his precognition happened. Glad that he hadn’t slammed the car into a telephone pole again, especially with Angie in the passenger seat, he shrugged. “Uh.” Trying to think fast, he glanced at her again. “I was trying to think of a name earlier tonight, and it just popped in my head.” 23
“Oh.” Looking out the window at the scenery going by, she realized that they had been steadily going higher and higher. “Where are we going?”24
“Make-out Point,” he replied seriously, smiling as she laughed. Pulling the car off the road, and hoping he didn’t hit a ditch or do any serious damage to it, he stopped, and looked out the front window. 25
Angie gasped at the view in front of her. Lights from the city twinkled in a sprawled vista, the rainbow of colors seeming both surreal and angelic in appearance. “Make-out Point,” she whispered, amused.26
Taking a quick, but inconspicuous look outside, Dom opened his door and got out. “Come on,” he said.27
Watching as his door closed, Angie hesitated before opening her own. There were times that she got the strangest vibes from Dom, and although it passed, she had experienced one earlier when asked about the ‘Zane’ name. Pushing it aside, she got out of the car, and turned to close the door, jumping with a small cry as she felt a body behind her. 28
“Just me,” Dom said with a whisper in her ear, relaxing her immediately. Starting at her hips, his hands slowly worked their way up her body, eliciting small sighs from her. 29
Slightly pushing back against him, Angie smiled as she felt his body harden behind her. Trying to turn, she remained facing the car as strong hands held her.30
“Not yet,” he said in a low voice, moving her hair to the side and kissing the back of her neck. Nudging her legs apart with one of his, he moved in closer as his hands gently ran over her body. 31
Placing one hand over his, and the other on the roof of the car to keep from falling, Angie closed her eyes at the sensation of being in the open on the top of a large hill, being stroked in all the right places by very talented hands.32
Trusting his precognition to kick in to alert him of any possible danger, Dom stopped his caressing long enough to undo the top of her pants.33
~~~~~~~~~~~34
Looking like something out of biker hell, the man strode through the city’s streets, his view straight ahead. He didn’t need his eyes for this task, relying on his natural senses and instincts to find what he was searching for. He’d caught whiff of something outside of a café, but since the place was closed, he couldn’t check it out. 35
Although, the scent he picked up was faint, almost like it was being carried by someone that had recently been in close proximity to the eagle he was now hunting. Find that person, and he’d be able to find Aiden Falconidae.36
Zane Kalenta could feel the bloodlust that always seemed to churn in him when he was hunting someone. Although he preferred to live in the late seventeenth century, where tracking and killing was a real adventure, he’d come to present day to help out one brother, and totally piss off another one. He got along with Liam, and not with Paul, whom he always considered to be a lost cause as an Arcadian. Zane thought the youngest brother was more human that he had a right to be, and a shame to a fine Arcadian clan. 37
Rounding a corner, he walked straight past a group of people who wisely moved out of his way. It wasn’t his looks that made them move, although the sight of a six foot four man with short black hair, a permanent snarl, and hard eyes dressed in biker leather would make others move on most occasion. This time it was the general aura he was sending, sort of a ‘you’re dirt, and I won’t hesitate to kill you’, along with the natural animal magnetism that Were’s oozed.38
Sighing in annoyance as his cell phone sounded in his ears, bringing him from his concentration, he touched the small button on the receiver microphone hooked to his jacket. “What?”39
“Where are you?” a voice asked through the earphone buds he had in place. If one didn’t know he was on a call, it would look like he was talking to himself. 40
“Be vewy, vewy quiet,” he said. “I’m hunting eagle.”41
“Oh, funny, Zane.”42
“She’s in the city, Liam,” Zane said as he walked. “Your idiot brother was right.”43
“Paul’s your idiot brother, too.”44
“Hey, thanks for reminding me. “ Stopping, he looked around. “Get the addresses for the Hunter yet?”45
“No.”46
Sighing in annoyance, Zane started walking again. “Find a group of Daimons, and ask if they can describe them,” he ordered. “Oh, and ask a couple of our cousins if they want to get in on the action. Maybe they can kill her, and we won’t have to lift a finger.”47
“I don’t like Daimons.”48
“Funny,” Zane said. “They’d like you. You’re probably all crunchy and make a great snack pack for them.”49
“Fuck off.”50
“Blow me,” Zane replied. “Look, idiot. Just head out to any place where stupid humans go, and look for someone in sunglasses. That would be a Dark-Hunter. Grab their scent, then go look for another one.”51
“And what will you be doing while I’m risking my life?” Liam asked acerbically. “Getting laid?”52
“Why? You know someone?” Zane trotted across the street and started walking in another direction. “I’ll be looking for expensive cars, and checking out who drives them.” He stopped walking. “Look, bro. This bitch might not even be at a Hunter’s house, but at least it’ll narrow down things if we count them out as a source of help for her.”53
Disconnecting the call, Zane wondered why he’d agreed to hop through time to hunt down some ‘nonentity’ eagle just so his father could pull off another one of his half-baked schemes. Smiling at the sight of a few very scantly clad women, he sighed in appreciation, and knew why he’d agreed. One didn’t see that in seventeenth century.54
~~~~~~~~55
The sky was just showing the tendrils of sunrise as Dom pulled onto his property and continued all the way to the garage. Most times, he’d just park the car somewhere in the driveway, but he’d pushed it a little too long this morning, and didn’t feel like frying himself in the sun. 56
After a few hours on ‘Make-out Point’ with Angie, and discovering just how sturdy the shocks on his car really were, he’d dropped her off at her place so he could return for his ‘meeting’. 57
Plucking another leaf from hair as he opened the car door, he put a foot on the floor and started to get out. Halfway, he stopped as he saw himself on the ground in a parking lot, Angie crouching beside him, and Ash standing not too far away. Grabbing the vision before it could filter away, he took a look at himself. In the previous vision, he’d been clean-shaven, but this time it showed him with his goatee. 58
Sagging slightly as the vision left, he tightened his grip on the car door to keep from hitting the floor. He should have known better than to attempt to trick some future events by trying to change his appearance. Fate, when needed to, simply changed the variables to include new things. 59
Basically, this was telling him that it was a done deal, and he would die. Since both Ash and Angie were there, and odds were that Angie would attempt to return his soul. The thought should have been comforting…but it scared him so much that he was finding it hard to breathe. 60
Forcing himself to get out of the car, he walked to the house, entering through the kitchen, and tossed his keys on the counter as he walked past. His breathing was still pained, and he made it to the living room, pausing out of habit to check that the heavy drapes were pulled over the window, and then continued on to the couch. 61
Sitting, he stared at the floor as he allowed the thoughts to continue. Yes, the thought of becoming human again scared him. He was too used to eternity to change that, and if pressed for an answer, would completely admit that he didn’t actually want to be human again. He didn’t want the pain, the caring, or the eventual death that went with it. 62
Not to mention that if Angie pulled him from his current life, then there was the chance that he would resent her. He never wanted that to happen. Plus, placing the medallion with his soul in it would ruin her hand, closing her future as a massage therapist. 63
Leaning back with a sigh, he shook his head. It was a good argument, and one that he had almost convinced himself that he believed in. He really didn’t want to be human again, but that was more to the fact that he really wasn’t looking to repeat the pain that had hit him the first time around. Then again…there had been a lot of happiness before that pain, and part of him wondered if he could have that joy in his current incarnation.64
His eyes flicked to the side as he heard movement upstairs, and sighed when the footsteps were too light to be Craig’s. He really didn’t want to talk to one of his houseguests at the moment, and didn’t feel like getting up and making his way to the private portion of the house. This was his home, damn it, and there was no way he’d let anyone make him feel uncomfortable in any part of it.
Blinking at that sudden thought, he wondered where it came from, since the two women had basically stayed out of his way in the couple days they’d been there. Hoping it wasn’t a foreshadowing of something to come, he listened as the footsteps continued down the stair, and stopped. 65
Glancing as a figure appeared in his peripheral vision, he sighed to himself as she stared at him. He’d known it was the one they called Wendy…although he had high doubts that it was her real name, but he played along anyway. Ash would fill him in only if and when Dom needed to know the truth. He wished that truth was forthcoming, though, and the sooner the better. The eagle he didn’t mind, but ‘Wendy’ made him nervous, which was an unfamiliar and completely uncomfortable feeling.66
“Busy night?” Tria asked.67
“Usual,” Dom replied.68
“Just wondered, since you have a couple leaves and twigs in your hair.” She blinked as his cheeks blushed for a fraction of a second. “Ohhh,” she breathed in understanding. “Never mind.” 69
“Who’s after you?” Dom asked, wanting to get away from the subject, and resisting the urge to pick twigs from his hair.70
“Honestly, I don’t know.”71
“Are they after you, or the eagle?” Dom asked. “And why did Ash lump you two together?”72
Sitting in a chair opposite from him, Tria sucked on her lip as she decided how much to tell him. She knew she couldn’t reveal the Dark-Hunter part of her past, and wondered if he recognized her, even a little bit. “Well,” she started slowly. “You obviously know that I can’t tell you a lot.”73
”Obviously.”74
“Best way to describe it is that Aiden is my bodyguard, or at least someone that’s not intent on trying to kill me again.”75
“Lesser of two evil,” Dom said in a slightly amused tone.76
“Basically,” Tria agreed. “Apparently it’s important that I stay alive, and it’s important to someone else that Aiden remains alive, and we’re not really sure who’s after who.”77
“Well, that clears that right up,” Dom said. “And I see you’ve been taking vague lessons from Ash.” Standing, he gave her a brief nod and started for the large oak door and his sanctuary.78
“You don’t want us here, do you””79
He turned and looked at her. “No.” 80
“Then why are we here?”81
Dom sighed lightly. “For the past one thousand years, the only thing I knew I could really count on was Ash,” he said. “Sure, other Hunters are there, but we tend to drain each others powers, and some don’t exactly play nicely with each other.” He stopped for a moment. “Ash trusted me enough to look after two people that he obviously cares about, and I can’t turn that down.”82
~~~~~~~~~83
Sitting in a window seat of the café he had been to the previous night, Zane looked over the spars clientele. Each one had been cleared as someone he should check out further, but he could still smell trace amounts of the scent carried by his people. He knew that a Dark-Hunter wouldn’t be here in the day, but that didn’t mean one of his servants couldn’t be. 84
Although there were no guarantees that the eagle was with a Dark-Hunter, Zane was willing to place his bets on it. He was very good at what he did, and all it took was the right amount of deducing to arrive at his conclusion. Besides, even if the eagle wasn’t at a Hunter’s, he could still use the information to his advantage. Getting into a Hunter’s house was easy for a Were, and that admittance was worth gold to some people, most especially Daimons.85
Sipping a cup of what he had to begrudgingly admit was fairly good coffee, he continued to casually watch the customers and the street outside while waiting for his brother to call. If Liam had done things correctly, then he should have been able to find at lest one Hunter and find out where they lived. If he didn’t do it right, then he was probably a Daimon snack, and the Arcadian population would be down one eagle. 86
Not that either scenario appealed to him, but it was the risks of being who they were, and of having a greedy bastard for a father. A small part of Zane admired his brother Paul’s ability to not give a damn either way on what their father did, but he wished the idiot had the balls to walk away from the family so that Zane wouldn’t be reminded of it every time he saw him. Besides, it was far easier to just hate the little twerp than have to be jealous of any part of his messed up existence. 87
Pulling his musings from family, he looked up as a man easily slid into the seat across from him. Although he had only seen him on one other occasion, the face was burned into his memory; especially the deceptively friendly eyes that could turn downright malevolent in less time than it took to blink. Deciding that running away was better than possible death, Zane stood.88
“Sit,” Savitar ordered easily. Waving off the waitress as she approached, he studied the eagle opposite him, waiting until the other finally looked away. “What are you doing here?”89
“Having coffee,” Zane replied, forcing his voice to be calm. He wasn’t afraid of much, except for maybe the legendary powers of the Omegrion mediator.90
“Let me rephrase that,” Savitar said calmly, bringing up a hand to scratch one of the tattoos on his right arm. “What are you doing, in this time period, in this city, sitting in this café? And if you reply with ‘drinking coffee’, then it will be the last words you utter.” 91
“You know why I’m here,” Zane said, a little harsher than intended, and cringed as Savitar’s eyes flashed a deep blue. “Better question is…why are you here? I wasn’t aware of any orders from the Omegrion regarding the bitch.”92
Resisting the urge to swat him like the insect he was, Savitar smiled coolly. “No orders, no. And really, no protection.” His smiled dipped to positively frigid. “But take notice… if you or your brother kills Aiden Falconidae, then I will personally hunt for you and your kin. There will be no where that you can hide from me.”93
“Is that a threat?” Zane asked, more curious than scared. 94
“Threat, promise, vow, guarantee,” Savitar said as he pushed the chair back to stand. “Take it as you wish.” Turning, he walked across the floor and out of the café. 95
Continuing down the streets, Savitar resisted the urge to smile. The replacement of Paul with Zane had been a small glitch that needed to be fixed, which was the only reason he made the trip to the city. The eldest brother was just unpredictable enough to throw the best-laid plans completely out of whack. 96
Savitar hadn’t come right out and forbid the eagles to attack, and Zane was smart enough to realize that. Checking future events as he walked, and assuring himself that things were back the way they were supposed to…with the exception of a death that hadn’t been in the first scenario. 97
Sighing in annoyance, he checked a few more things, looking to see if anything could be done to change it. Shrugging at the unavoidable incident, he headed for a door in a random building, opened it, and then vanished back to the tranquil and undemanding shores of Neratiti. 98
~~~~~~~~~99
“I’m bored.”100
Craig gritted his teeth, then fixed a smile on his face and turned around. “Can’t leave the grounds.”101
Aiden raised an eyebrow. “You think you can stop me?”102
“Not at all,” Craig replied smoothly. “But if you pop yourself out of here, don’t come back. I don’t want some being catching your little magick and zeroing in on you here.”103
“You’re paranoid,” she replied, but knew he was right.104
Craig shrugged. “Paranoid, careful, whatever. Look… I have a bunch of things to do this afternoon, and a second set of hands would be helpful. If you can get his holiness to release you from your prison sentence, then you can come with.”105
Aiden sighed inwardly. It wasn’t exactly what she wanted, but decided that it was at least something to do. “Let me make a few phone calls, and I’ll see if I can get a day pass or something.”106
“Think what’s-her-face wants to make a break for it, too?”107
“Wendy.”108
“Sure,” he said noncommittally, knowing that it wasn’t her real name. “Let’s go with that.”109
“I’ll ask.”110
“Cool. And, if anything weird happens while we’re running these errands, I’m going to rely on you to kick some ass with your magick.”111
“Big, bad, brave squire can’t defend himself?”112
“Sure I can,” Craig said, not the least bit offended. “But there’s just something totally hot about a woman kicking ass, and well… I got a date tonight, and-“113
“Spare me!” Shaking her head in annoyance, Aiden walked away as he burst out laughing. “Twit,” she muttered, pulling out her cell phone and pushing a button. 114
“Yeah?” Ash’s voice came over the speaker function.115
“Can I get a day’s reprieve to leave this lovely prison and wander around town with the squire?”116
Pausing as he searched out the information needed, and seeing where Craig had to go that day, Ash considered. “Be careful,” he said slowly. “And if anything seems strange, phase out of there, but don’t return to the house.” He paused again. “Just call me and I’ll get her out of there.”117
“Sounds good.” Closing the phone, Aiden breathed a sigh of relief. She didn’t mind being at the Dark-Hunter’s house, even if he didn’t really want them there, but she was a creature that was used to do what she wanted, when she wanted. And right now, she wanted to see something other than the property she was sequestered to. 118
Twenty minutes later, she was in the passenger seat of a 2002 Lotus Esprit V8, tapping her fingers in tune to the music blaring from speakers and feeling freer than she had in weeks. Tria had decided to sleep, so that left her out of the trip for supplies.
“Where do you put it?” she asked.
“Put what?” Craig asked, turning the music down.
“Supplies.”
“I bring some back, but most are delivered to the house next door and then I go get ‘em.” He glanced at her. “Dom owns both houses on either side, too. He’s paranoid of someone getting over from them, or dying in them, and the soul finding him.”
“Paranoid,” Aiden agreed. “Sounds like typical Dark-Hunter attitude.”
“Well, he’s a little more laid back than some, but yeah… typical.”
“He’s a narcissistic, self-centered loner,” Aiden said.
“He’s not narcissistic,” Craig said, coming to Dom’s defense. “The rest sounds about right, though.” He glanced at her. “Like you said, though; typical Dark-Hunter attitude.” Pulling into a parking lot, Craig stopped the car. “First stop.”
Aiden looked at the store. “Clothes shopping?”
Craig shrugged, and waited until she got out of the car. “Dom tends to go through a lot of shirts.” He paused. “Or, rather, a lot of weapons seem to go through Dom’s shirts.”
Aiden followed the squire inside, and stood around looking at the merchandise while Craig went to the counter, and soon walked back with a package. Making their way back to the car, Craig handed Aiden a slip of paper.
“Put that in the glove compartment, will you?”
Glancing at it as she slipped it into the small compartment, she pulled it back out and stared. “Whoa,” she breathed, looking at the total amount. “Spun from gold, are they?”
“Custom made, something or other,” Craig said as she put the receipt away. “Some little shop in some little village about a stone’s throw from where Dom was born. Or something like that. All I know is that his squires have been buying them for years.”
“Expensive tastes,” Aiden said as they drove out of the parking lot.
“Yeah, look. It would be cool if someone could psychoanalyze Dom, and find out why he acts the way he does, but unless you’ve got a degree in something, I’m going to have to ask that you stop the back-handed comments.”
“Just trying to figure the man out,” Aiden said. After hearing a few stories from Tria on what she knew about their host, Aiden decided she wanted to know more. But…it looked like her best source just slammed the door on her face.
“Nothing to figure out,” Craig said, stopping at a red light. “He’s a borderline psychopath with god-like delusions who likes to kill demons.”
“Typical Dark-Hunter attitude,” they both said at the same time, prompting laughter.
~~~~~~~~~~~ 119
Liam Kalenta ran his fingers through his hair as he stared at his brother in disbelief. “Oh, screw this,” he said. “I’m not going up against a god with a irritable attitude.”120
“Relax,” Zane said, losing his patience with the eagle that was quickly turning chicken. “With Savitar, it’s all the way things are worded. He said that we couldn’t kill the bitch. He said nothing about Daimons killing her.”121
”You’re willing to risk my life on that?”122
“Sure.” Zane smiled evilly. “Plus, he basically admitted that she was in the city.”123
”He did?”124
“Not with words, but with actions.” Checking his surroundings, Zane went back to his brother. “Why else would he show up here?”125
“True.” Sighing in partial relief, Liam leaned against the wall behind him. “I found two Dark-Hunters,” he said. “Neither one had the scent of the eagle on them.” 126
“So that leaves…probably two to four more Hunters.” Zane shrugged. “I’m going back to the café later…coffee’s pretty good, and I wanna see if I can get a better scent from anyone.”127
”What did you want me to do?”128
Grow a backbone? “Round up some Daimons,” he said. “Looks like we’re going to have to go with place ‘B’ on this.” He paused, and looked contemplative. “I’m thinking that dear old father should give us a nice huge slice of the money he’s going to receive for this. It’s far more trouble than it’s worth, really.”129
~~~~~~~~~~130
The sun was just setting when Craig and Aiden arrived back at the house, laden down with more supplies than originally intended. Eyeing the packages at Aiden’s feet, Craig raised an eyebrow. “And you say Dom has expensive tastes.”131
Giving a derisive sniff, Aiden opened the door, grabbed the packages and got out. “I happen to like expensive things,” she said. “Besides, I grabbed a few things for other people, too.”132
“Gift shopping?” Craig asked, grabbing a few of the essential things, like new weapons and coffee. “Whatcha get me?” 133
“Same thing I got you last time.”134
“Nothing…how thoughtful.” Making his way through to the house, he paused at the sight of Dom already up and about. “You’re up early.”135
“Couldn’t sleep,” Dom said, eyeing the packages as he placed his coffee mug on the counter. “Whatcha get me?”136
“Package from Kell,” he said, placing the new arsenal from the Dark-Hunter weapons maker on the table. 137
Smiling like a kid at Christmas, Dom opened the package. “Oh, yeah,” he said in appreciation. Pulling out a note, he read it through and then laughed. 138
“What?” Craig asked, as he grabbed the note and read. “The hand claw is not to scratch your ass with, idiot.”139
Aiden arched an eyebrow at that. “Okay,” she said slowly. “Must be a guy thing. Wendy still sleeping?”140
“Nice non sequitur,” Dom muttered. “She was bugging me so I gagged her and shoved her in the music room.” 141
Sensing that he was lying, Aiden stared at him, annoyed as he returned the look with a completely innocent expression. 142
“Go on, kick his ass,” Craig mumbled, then had the gall to appear innocent as they both looked at him. “What?” 143
“Do you want me to list all the things wrong with that scenario?” Dom asked pointedly.144
“Not necessary,” Craig said as he laid his hand on another package. “Your shirts. And this time try to make them last past one wearing.”145
“Quit yer bitchin’,” Dom said, his millennium old accent creeping in. “Gawd, you sound like me mum.”146
Getting annoyed at being dismissed from the conversation, Aiden leaned on the table. “Wendy?”147
“Music room,” Dom said. “Told you that already.” Opening the package, he held one of the shirts up and looked at Craig. “You gotta be kidding me.”148
“It’s a nice shirt.” 149
“It’s lime green.” 150
“It’s all the rage.” 151
Tossing it across the table at his squire, Dom shook his head. “A gift. I expect to see you wearing it on your next date.”152
“You serious?” Craig asked. “It’s fucking ugly.”153
Ignoring him, Dom looked through the rest of the shirts. Satisfied, he grabbed the package and turned to leave, stopping short when he realized Aiden was still in the kitchen. “Music room,” he told her again. 154
“Which is…?”155
”A place where I store musical instruments,” he replied seriously, ignoring the glare she gave him. “Just off the living room, second door before the dining room.”
Watching as Aiden muttered something under her breath before walking away, he looked back at Craig. “Well, she’s certainly more entertaining to jerk around then the Wendy one is.”156
“Yeah, well, I have a date.” Walking past his boss, Craig stopped short as an arm shot out to block his path. “What?”157
“Forgot your shirt,” Dom said nodding to the table.158
”You’re not serious.”159
“Sure I am.” Waiting until Craig shuffled back, grabbed the shirt and stormed off, Dom continued on his way. Making a small detour to the direction of the music room, he paused outside the door, listening to voices and music coming from within. 160
Since he had a lot of spare time, and far too many years around him, mastering musical instruments took away some of the boredom. The room was packed with enough things to outfit a small orchestra, or even a band from any music genre one could name. Some he played, while others he mastered, then placed aside to gather dust. He had no preferred instrument, and really hadn’t been in the room in more than a few months. It was kind of nice to see it being used by someone other than Craig. 161
Opening the door, he stuck his head in and looked at the two women. “See,” he said with a slight smirk, “safe and sound.” Closing the door before anyone could reply, he headed off to his own private domain to get ready for a night of kicking demon ass.162
~~~~~~~~~163
Zane took one step into the café and stopped as the scent he had been looking for assaulted him. Quickly scanning the sparse crowd, and ascertaining that the eagle wasn’t there, he zeroed in on the woman standing behind the counter. 164
“Pick a seat,” Angie told him. “Coffee?”165
Walking to the counter, Zane looked at her. “Coffee sounds good,” he said, leaning a little closer to get a better sniff.166
Giving him a strange look, Angie took a step back, grabbed the coffee pot and poured him a cup. Keeping the pot in one hand in case she needed to toss it at the man that was quickly creeping her out, she slid his cup to him. 167
Realizing that he might be freaking out a good lead, Zane smiled, took his coffee and headed for a table. Yeah, the woman had been somewhere near the eagle, but she didn’t look like the Squire type. Zane waited until she walked past him to another table, then stood and approached from behind. 168
Turning from the table, Angie stopped as the man blocked her path. “Uh, excuse me?” Angie said, taking a step back. “Getting a little too close there, bud.” 169
Taking a step closer, he inhaled; more certain than ever that this woman had been around the eagle he was looking for. Before he could ask her about it, a voice whispered from behind him, “Back it the fuck up, Were, or I’ll kill you right here.” 170
Taking a step back, Zane slowly turned to face the person who had spoken in a voice low enough that only he could hear. Surprise mixed with elation as he stared, his instincts telling him that his newcomer was close to evil incarnate. “My apologies,” Zane said easily. 171
Dom glared from behind dark sunglasses, the only indication that he was beyond pissed off. “You okay, Ang?” he asked, his gaze never leaving the Were-Hunter.172
“Yeah,” Angie replied, before looking at the other man. “I think it would be best if you left.”173
“Couldn’t agree more,” Zane said, taking a step around Dom and walking out of the café. He easily made his way across the street, and out of sight. Stopping, he shook his head and pulled out the cell phone.
“Found her,” he said as soon as the call was answered. “Dark-Hunter I just ran into reeks of her. She’s gotta be staying at his place.” Giving Liam the address of the café, he closed his phone, then making sure no one was watching, morphed into an eagle and flew to the top of a neighboring building so he could keep an eye on the Dark-Hunter and follow him back to his home, and to the bitch.174
Back in the café, Angie gave Dom a smile, held up the coffee pot. “Thanks, he was creepy, coffee?”175
“To go,” Dom said, apologetically. “Can’t stay.”176
“Oh.”177
“Wish I could, but…”178
”But Superman is needed somewhere,” Angie said, giving him a smile as she walked past him. 179
“Something like that,” Dom agreed. “I just wanted to stop in and tell you, and maybe score a kiss or two.” 180
Eyeing the customers, Angie noticed that a few were watching them. Most of them were regulars, and most knew her, and were familiar with Dom’s presence in the café. Although, she doubted that he traded more than two words with any of them over the past couple years. 181
Pouring Dom a coffee into a travel mug, she placed it on the counter, and leaned forward expectantly. She’d probably get hell from her bosses for kissing a customer, but didn’t really care. 182
“Ang?” Dom said slowly. “Put the coffee pot down. Don’t feel like getting scalded tonight.” 183
Not realizing that she still had a firm grip on it, Angie smiled sheepishly as she turned and put it back on the coffee machine. Returning to her original position, she leaned towards him, surprised as he leaned away. 184
Taking her hand from the counter, he led her to the main floor. Dipping Angie slightly back, he brought his lips to hers, kissing hard, then laughed against her mouth as the people around them started clapping. 185
Bringing her back to the standing position, he kissed lightly, then grabbed his coffee and headed for the exit. 186
“About bloody time!” and elderly woman said from her usually table by the door, giggling as Dom winked at her as he walked out. 187
Angie stared at the door, then jerked as the phone rang. Answering it, her usual greeting was cut short by the person who called. 188
“Got classes tomorrow?” Dom asked.189
“No.”190
“Pick you up around five?” 191
“Sounds great,” Angie replied. Hanging up the phone, she realized that everyone was looking at her. Smiling she shook her head and went to the back room. 192
~~~~~~~~193
Craig sighed in annoyance as his phone rang. He gave an apologetic look to Melissa, who looked unimpressed. “Yeah?” he said, answering the phone. 194
“Wearing the shirt?” 195
“Damn it, Dom,” he said angrily. “Yes, I’m wearing the snot green shirt! Did you call me just to harass me?” 196
“Yes,” Dom’s voice said in his ear. “That, and I just caught a Were taking a closer than comfortable sniff of Angie.” 197
Sitting from the couch he and Melissa had been lying on, he suddenly looked serious. “Is she all right?” he asked. “I’ll be right-“ 198
“No. Stay where you are for the night.”199
Craig pulled the phone away, and stared at it in confusion. Bringing the phone back, he stared at Melissa. “You sure?” 200
“I have to make a couple phone calls, and I’ll get back to you. Give my apologies to Melissa for interrupting.”201
Disconnecting the call, Craig tapped the cell phone in his hands as he considered the conversation. Jerking, he smiled at Melissa, and stood. “I have to make a phone call, and I’ll be right back.” 202
“Leaving?”203
“No,” Craig said, still slightly confused. “He even said to make sure I apologize to you for calling.” Making his way to the front door, Craig stepped out and made his call. “I need a watch on Dominic Olluein’s property,” he said when it was answered. “No one in, or out, except for me and Dom.” 204
Hanging up, he exhaled, not really happy with Dom’s orders that he not return back home for the night. The news that some Were had been seriously sniffing around Angie was disturbing, especially in light of the two guests at the house. He didn’t know what Dom had planned, if anything, but was willing to go along with the Hunter. Didn’t mean hat he had to leave the house unguarded, though. 205
He contemplated calling Wendy and Aiden, and filling them in, but decided that if was supposed to do that, then Dom would have asked him to. Sighing in worry, doubt and annoyance, he turned and walked back to his girlfriend’s house. 206
~~~~~~~~~~~207
Driving through the city streets, Dom kept an eye out for demons and stray Were-Hunters. He wasn’t sure if the Were in the café had anything to do with the women at his house, but he was willing to lay good money on a bet that it did. 208
Pulling his cell phone out again, he called Ash, and waited while it clicked through to the call answer. “Would a Were be sniffing around for Aiden or Wendy?” he asked, then hung up. Keeping the phone in his hand, he smiled slightly as it started to ring. 209
Flipping it open, he pulled into a parking lot so he could talk. “Yes?”210
”Describe the Were,” Ash’s voice said. 211
“Tall, short black hair, far too much leather, and an aura that makes you look cute and cuddly.”212
“Funny,” Ash said sarcastically. “I’m not aware of any Weres that are after Aiden, but since she’s been declared exoristos, it’s possible.”213
“Who’s been what now?” Dom asked in confusion.214
“Means she’s been kicked out of her Patria, and they can’t refer to her as an entity.”215
“Charming.” Switching hands with the cell phone, Dom sighed. “Ash. I’d really like your help in this. I don’t want to see someone killed for some stupid reason.”216
“Me either,” Ash said. “If Aiden hasn’t used her magick, then it’ll be hard for anyone to find her.”217
“But, they could.”218
“Eventually.”219
“Ash,” the tone held warning in it. “I respect and trust you with my life, but damn it…”220
Quickly going through the futures of those involved, and discovering that most were too hazy for him to access, Ash reached out further. Looking at Melissa’s future, he realized that in twenty-four hours, see was going to be extremely happy, the emotion centered on Craig. Logically, if something were to happen in the next day, it would upset Craig, and more than likely carry on over to his girlfriend. “I’ll be by in the morning to get them,” Ash said slowly.221
“Thanks, man.”222
“No, thank you,” Ash said. “You made far less noise than I thought you would with me dumping them on you. I appreciate you letting them stay.”223
“Any time,” Dom said, his attention suddenly going across the parking lot. “Just give me more notice next time so I can leave the country.” Closing the phone, he waited while four blonde men ran across the lot, then got out of the car and started after them.224
~~~~~~~~~~225
Landing on a roof, Zane watched as the Dark-Hunter’s car pulled into a parking spot. After a few minutes, the door opened, and the Hunter got out, then set off on a light run across the pavement. 226
Following with his eyes, the eagle spotted four men running at the edge of the area, all looking like they were panicking. Guessing them to be Daimons, Zane spread his wings intent on flying away, but pulled them close to his body. 227
As a hunter himself, he could appreciate a good chase, while the bird of prey in him like the carnage. Unfortunately, with Daimons there wasn’t much carnage, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t watch himself a good fight for survival. 228
Watching as the Dark-Hunter quickly caught up with the Daimons that finally decided to turn and fight, he had to admit that the aggressor knew his shit. The fight was a blur of movement, and Zane had the urge to join in. Pressing that urge back, he knew that it would only tip the Hunter off to him being followed.229
Stabbing out with both hands, and connecting with two Daimons, the Dark-Hunter was suddenly down to more manageable odds. Watching from the roof, Zane screeched lightly at a Daimon got in a good hit, causing the Hunter to stumble back and bring a hand to his side. 230
Even from his perch across the lot, Zane could hear the cursing that came from the Hunter, and wished he was in his human form so he could laugh as the Daimon was knocked to the ground from a punch to the face. Watching as the Hunter spun, stabbed the only Daimon standing, then continued in an arc to stab the one on the ground, Zane realized that his initial assessment of the Dark-Hunter had been correct. 231
The man looked like he enjoyed what he did, and that placed him very close to evil incarnate. 232
Zane stiffened as the Dark-Hunter straightened, then turned to look directly at him. Instead of acting guilty by flying away, Zane turned and paced the roof he was on, pecking at the material under him until a piece came off in his beak. Grabbing the piece and trying not to gag at the taste, he flew off the roof, over the Hunter’s head, and into the branches of a tree not too far away. 233
Making sure that there was enough foliage around him to be hidden, he placed the material on a branch, grimace to himself, and flew out of the tree for the roof and another piece. The Dark-Hunter watched for a few moments, then walked back in the direction of his car. 234
Waiting until he was out of sight, Zane spit the piece out of his mouth, and switched direction so he could continue following. Eventually, the immortal would lead him back to his house, and to the object of his hunt.
In a list
Please tell me what you think
Comments
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What happened to the link go to the next chapter? or even the list?
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Simi knows? Right on! Wonder how long she's known for.
Make-out point? *nudge nudge, wink wink*
“Be vewy, vewy quiet,” he said. “I’m hunting eagle.” ..
Geeze... these eagle brothers argue and instult each other a lot.
Okay... no more comments... must read... critique later....
Except to add... Savitar came off the island to warn Zane? ohhh... must read faster!
Typical Dark-Hunter attitude,”
Music room banter... too funny!
“You serious?” Craig asked. “It’s fucking ugly.” HAHAHAHA!
eeep Zane found him.
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